More on EMEA Telco Leaders – Page 159
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PremiumAuction fate unknown as Telkom mulls interdict U-turn
Spectrum auction may still go ahead, despite initial Telkom protests. Vodacom and MTN unite with South African regulator to fight deferral. Telkom offers to withdraw its interdict, provided rivals are open to an “expedited review” of its complaints. Any delay would represent a sixth postponement of the auction, currently ...
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Partnerships & AlliancesBT ties with SES on ‘multi-orbit’ data and IoT
Global division looking to satcomms to expand mining sector presence and boost search for growth. Tie-up bridges various in-vogue areas of enterprise IoT, satellite, not-spot coverage, and cloud productised services. Deal appears precursor to broader revamp of BT’s ecosystem at intersection of wireless and satcomms.
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Venturing & InvestmentsGroup adds network software duo to Innovation Pool
DT invests in Teridion for multi-cloud WAN connectivity via TIP vehicle. New partnership and minority stake in Israel-based WAN specialist aimed at improving internet connectivity performance for enterprises. Deal adds another prong to DT’s SD-WAN approach. TIP also adds software-based comms player SignalWire to portfolio, with carrier services arm ...
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PeopleOpenreach’s McTighe emerges as frontrunner for Ofcom chair
Mike McTighe, Chairman at Openreach, reportedly on the shortlist to oversee regulator. Drawn-out search for Lord Burns’ successor sees another BT-affiliated name on the cards.
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Suppliers & SCMSafaricom lauds TIBCO for service and network advances
Kipkirui says microservices and cloud-native APIs from longstanding partner is key in helping OpCo to become an “insights-led, tech-driven company”. Adds that Safaricom has been able to maintain “maximum value” from capex invested in TIBCO. OpCo aims to migrate entire TIBCO BPM stack from on-prem to public cloud by ...
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PeopleBT’s new growth oriented Division X names leader
Former Sierra Wireless SVP Marc Overton appointed MD, Division X as BT Enterprise seeks solution-selling in high-growth verticals. Adjacent markets targeted by new unit, with Overton’s IoT specialism among the target technologies.
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Public AffairsVodacom, MTN pick sides in South African auction saga
Operators unite with South African regulator as rival Telkom requests further delays. Any success for Telkom would represent a sixth postponement of the auction, currently set to take place by the end of March.
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Partnerships & AlliancesO2 Germany teams with Westenergie Breitband for fixed access
German operator signs up seventh wholesale partner. New deal with E.ON-owned provider also facilitated by Vitroconnect.
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PeopleTelefónica shuffles and slims security unit leadership
Telefónica Ingeniería de Seguridad takes on parent’s corporate leadership model. Changes to chairman and a handful of directors, with Group executives swapped for Tech names.
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OperationsVi selling majority stake to Indian government in bid to stay afloat
The state is set to receive a 35.8% stake in Vodafone Idea. Share prices drop around 20% in the wake of the news. Stake will be exchanged for easing of the struggling JV’s considerable debt. Government “do not want to run company”, insists Vi CEO
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M&AT-Mobile US picks up rideshare advertiser Octopus
Adtech-focused Marketing Solutions division makes acquisition to expand marketers toolkit. Octopus Interactive to transition to T-Mobile network for device connectivity.
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PremiumElsewhere in Vodafone Africa: Safaricom expands Lipa Mdogo Mdogo
Safaricom brings China’s Transsion into device financing fold; SODAQ teams with IoT.nxt; new Vodacom buddy Dark Fibre Africa goes on cost-cutting drive.
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PremiumOpenreach gets good marks for independence
Ofcom monitoring unit warns BT and Openreach to stay vigilant. Stakeholders raise concerns about PIA, defective poles, and lack of clarity on Openreach’s build plans. Equinox pricing offer deemed free from BT influence, as Ofcom defends its approval to Competition Appeal Tribunal in challenge brought by CityFibre.
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PeopleDT moves AI beyond the lab with new lead
DT’s new head of AI, Jan Hofmann, signals broadening approach. Predecessor Claudia Pohlink takes on new role at Deutsche Bahn. Emphasis increasingly placed on AI-infused voice technology as a business enabler. Nemat giving thought to AI implications for society and suggests there should be a ‘Hippocratic Oath’ for AI ...
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Venturing & InvestmentsSoftBank tie-up leads to GoStudent investment
DT and strategic partner SoftBank co-invest in ed-tech platform provider GoStudent. Investment collaboration one of promised benefits from renewed friendship last year, with GoStudent the first to profit from DT–SoftBank tie-up. Claure exit from SoftBank sees hiccup in new DT relationship, however.
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Public AffairsÁlvarez-Pallete warns of dangers of “digital slavery”
Telefónica Executive Chairman asserts that societal imbalance and data exploitation are risks that must be addressed as the world’s economies are digitised. Dire warnings of ‘slavery’ fit with Group commitments on creation of a digital rights framework that would see operators positioned as trusted partners.
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Public AffairsTelco giants join iPhone encryption battle
Vodafone, Telefónica, and Orange add to voices calling for encryption technologies to be outlawed. EC asked to stop iPhones denying data access. Assertion comes amid wider controversy involving monitoring of illegal activity.
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PremiumVM O2 picks ITV for IPTV advertising support
VM O2 signs ITV for content aggregator play. Addressable advertising and “full” integration among the benefits. JV’s first IPTV service pushed back for a 2022 launch.
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Network & InfrastructurePeru’s IpT likes open RAN, but sees room for improvement
CTO of rural provider lauds lower energy consumption, shorter implementation times, compared with traditional 4G rollouts. Flags “some limitations” on capacity and scalability, however; “overall cost” of open RAN equipment still in same ballpark as kit from mainstream vendors.
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PremiumElsewhere in UK: VM O2 augments EV fleet
VM O2 augments EV fleet; becomes founding member of National Databank to provide free data to low-income households.